FULTON, Mo. - The (RV) William Woods University baseball team returns to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon against the non-conference foe of Avila University, as the Owls will resume a game that had been postponed earlier in the season between both teams and conclude the season series with a nine inning match-up. The first pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.
The game that was originally scheduled for a home game for the Owls, is now scheduled at a neutral site at Westminster College baseball field in Fulton, Missouri.
The teams met back on March 31st, in Kansas City, Missouri, where the Owls (26-9; 13-6 AMC) took game one of the doubleheader 5-3 in extra innings before the second game was postponed due to darkness in the top of the seventh with the game all tied up at 5-5.
Despite the Eagles jumping out to a quick 3-1 lead in the first four innings in game one, the Owls bats came alive in the top of the seventh to put together a rally, scoring two runs to tie the game 3-3 on three hits. Then in the top of the eighth, after a
Dustin Kremer single and a
Nick Spagnola's triple, which scored Kremer,
WWU would take the 4-3 lead. The Owls would add another run for insurance off an Avila's error to make the score 5-3, as the defense retired the Eagles in the bottom half of their inning to capture the 5-3 victory.
Just like in the first game the Eagles were able to strike first and take an early 3-0 lead, but that wasn't stopping the Owls as the team plated three runs in the top of the sixth to add to their two runs on the board, taking the 5-3 lead. AU however, was able to get two of those runs back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game up 5-5 before it was postponed due to darkness.
The Owls are coming off a home weekend series against Hannibal-LaGrange University, which saw WWU take two of the three games, to collect the series win over the Trojans. William Woods took game one in dominating fashion, cruising by HLG 11-1, although dropped game two 4-1 but then was able to escape game three with a 5-4 come from behind win.
Cody Stewart, had an impressive weekend, as the senior batted a .692 (9-for-13), recording 10 RBI's and scoring three runs. The Owls centerfielder, nearly hit for the cycle in game two of the series, as he collected a grand slam, double and two singles. Stewart, a Temecula, California native, now pushed his season batting average up to a .342, while leading the team with 33 RBI's on the year.
Offensively on the season, Spagnola still continues to lead the team in several categories, which includes batting average (.366), hits (49), and stolen bases (13). The Owls are hitting .306 as a team on the year and outscoring its opponents 210-115, while six other Owls are batting above a .300.
On the mound, the Owls have had success from the starting pitchers, to its closers.
John Cavness has proved to arguably be one of the best starters in the American Midwest Conference, as the junior has earned an ERA of 2.22, posting a 6-1 record in the nine games he has started, while only giving up 13 earned runs and striking out 46 batters on the year.
James Ball, has been a consistent call in for relief for WWU, as the senior has recorded a team-high five saves and 53 strikeouts in 48.2 innings of work.
Avila University is currently, 21-18 on the season and 10-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Eagles are coming off a weekend series against Peru State University, where AU settled for a 2-2 series split.
On the season, Brandon Chandler leads the way for the Eagles, batting .352 from the plate and totaling a team-high 50 hits. Two other key players for AU are Stephen Montisano and Kyle Simmons, as both are hitting over .330, while Montisano leads the team with nine doubles, five home runs and seven stolen bases on the season.
On the rubber, the Eagles have earned an ERA of 5.29 as a team, as Cody Lewis has recorded an 4.02 ERA in 62.2 innings pitched and recording a 6-4 record, while E.J Merlo leads the staff with 51 strikeouts in his 59.1 innings of work on the year.
Fans check back on wwuowls.com for a full preview and scores of this doubleheader from the campus of Westminster College.
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